Holy Stitchwits!!

Not an euphemistic exclamation, or an original Batman TV series dialog but a group of women (men are also welcome) that get together the second Sunday of each month to crochet, knit, or any type of needle work in the Kirkendall Room. They knit, stitch and chat - about patterns, life and "stuff". The results of their creativity is given away: either as a personal project; a blanket for the newest grandchild, or a scarf for a friend or given to the Christmas at Sea ministry in our Diocese, scarves and hats for mariners who cannot be home for Christmas. Prayer/Comfort shawls may also be made if that is the choice of the knitter/crocheter. All of these crafted stories are designed to wrap, enfold, comfort and cover some one loved, cared for and prayed over.

Knitting, crochet, needlework all are a form of ritual - choosing the colors and pattern, picking up the needles or hooks, creating stitches and rows, casting on or off, the click of needles. The pattern repeated until the work is done, the end of the row, binding it off and the piece is blessed and sent on its way to comfort, warm and embrace. Cradling the recipient in warmth and prayer.

If you wish to join this group of serene weavers or would just like to sit and join in the conversation the next time they meet is Sunday January 13th after the 10:30 AM service in the Kirkendall Room.

looking back before going forward

Note to self; write 2013 on all paperwork - unless you are doing taxes than you are dealing with 2012 information, or the December report for the Food Bank due in 7 days or reports due to the Vestry, or.......

The first month or so of a New Year is confusing what with the Look Back at 2012 segments, and than things that must be tied up in 2013 but reflect 2012 it is nearly March before I remember which year to write on my checks (the fact that I write so few checks does not help)

Past the celebrations and into the beginning of the new year it seems to stretch ahead of us as a long and unbroken road one that we cannot see the end of. At the end of a year we look back and wonder where the time has gone, and how fast it seemed to have gone. Channeling Sheldon Cooper or Data time does not pass slowly or quickly, it is our perception of it and what we believe we need to accomplish in a set manner that alters our feeling of swift or slow. Don't believe me? It is Wednesday - and the next two days will seem to pass far slower to reach Saturday than the past two days that heralded in the new year. That is why it has been called "Hump Day" the day we need to get over to head to the downside of a "Week-end". But I digress;

In case you missed the What Happened in 2012 reflections here are some: (and if you saw those lists- well a few more won't hurt)
Please copy and paste the URL's in your browser for the full post


http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/22/a-mountain-im-willing-to-die-on-2/

Jan 22, 2012
Glennon on Momastery.com
"Dear Chase,

Whoever you are, whoever you become. You are loved. You are a miracle. You are our dream come true."



http://pastorjonathanmartin.com/uncategorized/more-than-a-symbol-why-we-moved-to-weekly-communion-at-renovatus/

Sept 4, 2012
Jonathan Martin

"I proclaim mysteries I understand less and less clearly the further I go, not more. And because I cannot explain, I can only extend the invitation that has been extended to me over and over, at my best and at my worse: “Taste and see, that the Lord is good.” Every mystery about life and God that I believe in is wrapped up in that meal; everything I would ever want anyone to receive is bound up in that table."


http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2012/08/your-god-is-too-big.html
August 13, 2012
-thoughts, articles and essays of Richard Beck

"See the smallness of God in this famous section of Night, Elie Wiesel's memoir of the Holocaust:"


http://joyinthisjourney.com/2012/12/shame-is-a-prison-and-im-breaking-out/
Dec 12, 2012
by Joy

"He opened a manilla file folder and slid out a few sheets of paper. I spotted my name on the folder, Facebook-blue across the top of one page, and my blog header on another. My mind raced as I tried to process. The pastor has a file on me. My gut was right. They don’t like who I am."



http://www.elizabethesther.com/2012/01/what-not-to-say-to-someone-struggling-with-their-faith.html
(I would add - or just struggling)

January 7, 2012
by Elizabeth Ester
"I’ve discovered that the closer a person is to the epicenter of the tragedy, the longer it takes for them to recover. "


and a funny one;

http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2012/12/how-do-you-define-sexy-no-really-i-need.html

December 7, 2012
"What is my problem? I am a therapist. I’m supposed to be good at having these conversations! But somehow the concept of explaining sexiness to kindergartens turned me into a bumbling idiot."


http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/enough
by Rachel Held Evens

"“Don’t just volumize your lashes! Millionize them! ..........how about they begin by not perpetuating the stereotype that girls are so bad at math and science that they’ll go out and buy a product that promises to “millionize” their eyelashes.? I mean, what’s next? A “trillionizer?” A “gazillionizer”? When you start with “millionize,” there’s nowhere else to go but crazy town. "


-debra kellerman